Chap. VI. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 295 



ly the care of Nature, It is in ii lliat the power of Inftind is mofl 

 eminently dlfplayed. The ufe of the parts of generation, and the 

 various methods of copulation pradtifed by dificrent Animals, are 

 certainly not difcovered by any of the faculties of Mind above 

 mentioned; nor are they pradifed from imitation or inftrudion: 

 But it is Nature herfelf that direds the Animal to do what is nccef- 

 fary for the propagation of the kind. 



The education alfo of the young is n wonderful efleiTc of this In- 

 ftin£t ; and likewife the preparation for it in fome animals, particularly 

 inthofe v/hom Nature has direded to pair, being a thing neceifary for 

 rearing the offspring of certain (peciefes of animals. The beafts that 

 couple prepare holes and layers convenient for their purpofe: And the 

 fowls make nefts, fome of them of moft artificial conftrudion, where 

 that is neceflary; and this, whether they be made by young or by old 

 birds; fo that it is plain they do not learn by pradice and experience, 

 p.s we do. 



The procefs of incubation in the bird-kind alfo fhows a mofl: 

 wonderful Inftind ; for the female who fits upon the eggs turns 

 them once in twenty-four hours, and alfo changes the place of 

 them, fo that they all may be in their turn immediately under her 

 breaft. And, after the young are in this way bi ought forth, it is 

 amazing how both the parents join in the labour of rearing them. 



There are fome birds v/hofe oeconomy requires that they fliould 

 -go over feas at certain feafons : And, accordingly, thefe birds of 

 pafTage, as they call them, know at what time to begin their flight, 

 and what courfe to hold tlu-ough the pathlefs air without chart or 

 compafs. 



I (hould write a Volume, if I were to enumerate all the dif- 

 ferent ways in which Inftind direds animals to preferve the 

 individual, as well as to continue the race, fome of them much 



exceeding 



